Plate-locking mechanism for printing presses



W. DURRANT Get. 29, 1929.

PLATE LOCKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Feb. '7, 1928 INVENTOR Patented Get. 29, 19 29 \VWILLVIAMV-DURRANT, on rnnrnnmnn, new JERSEY,

, PLATE-LOCKING MECHANISM non PRINTING ritnssns Application filed February 7, 1928. Serial No 252,538.

My invention relates to plate locking mechanism for printing presses and has for an object to provide an improved means for looking printing plates to a plate support.

My invention is particularly adaptable to the securing of curvedstereotype plateson the cylinders of web presses. Such plates are usually formed at each end with beveled edges which are engaged by clamping rings and clips carried by the cylinder. The plates are usually arranged'in opposed pairs of semi-cylindrical form, and there are usually several such pairs on a single cylinder. In a cylinder adapted to carry four pairs of semi-cylindrical stereotype plates, a central fixed clamping ring is used which engages the inner ends of the two inner pairs of plates, while sliding clamping rings are provided at the ends of the cylinder to clamp theouter ends of the two pairs of outer plates. Intermediate clips are arranged to engage the outer ends of the inner plates and the inner ends of the outer plates. 'lhese clips as wellas the outer clamping rings are carried by slide blocks which-slide inundercut slots formed in the face of the cylinder. Usually the outer clan'ipingrings are arranged in opposed pairs,

of semi-annular form. 'lheplates are locked in place by adjusting theout'eifsliding rings inwardly so that the outer pair of plates will bear against "the clips, and the latter in turn willpress 'theinner plates vagainst the fixed clamping ring. I 1\ I Various means havebeen; provided for ad- 5 justing the outersliding ring to clamping position, and itisan object of my invention to provide improved means for adjusting the sliding ring to lockup the plates. a

In a co-pending application, Serial No. 164,027, filed January '27, 1927, which has since eventuated in Patent Nuinber 1,62et, l26, dated J une19, 1928, I disclose a locking mechanism comprising i a" set of eccentric gears which are so arranged as to force the sliding ring to clamping or locking position. In the c'oacting cam thereto;

present invention I provide'a similar lo ckin'g mechanism, but inwhich the thrust is not for insuring the release of the ring clip when o the plate locking mechanism is unlocked. i

With these and other objects in View, I shall now describe an embodiment ofmy invention in connection with the accompanying drawings and will thereafter define the novelty and scope ofmy invention in the appended claims. 9 1n the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a 'Iragmentaryyiew, partly in a section, of the end of a printing press cylinder j I with my plate clamping mechanism attached Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section;

taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1'; and

Fig.3 is a plan View of aportion of a press 5 t cylinder with my improved clamping met-11 anism attached thereto, certain parts being removed and other parts shown in section.

in the drawings, a portion of apress cylinder is indicated at 10" and onthis cylinder,

in Figs. '1 and 2, is shown a portiongof a stereotype plate 11 which, at" its outer end, is formed with abeveled edge 12 adapted to be engaged bya ring clip 13. This clip is' secured to acentral sliding block 14.- and also i to blocks '15 adjacentopposite ends thereof.

These bloclrsengage and slide in undercut grooves or ways ltiformed in thecylindrieal face of thejcyhnder 10. The central way 16 coinn'mnicates at the bottom thereof withian 'so.

undercut chamber 17,'in the bottom Wall of;

j which is arecess 18. I j t My improved locking mechanism ncludes a three eccentrically mounted i'ntermeshing gears '19, 20, and 21, of which the'inner gear 8 5 1 21 is. carried by a plate22 mounted toslide 'in the groovelSpat the bottom of the chain-Q ber 17. The plate22 is formed withs'lots 28 and 24 through which pass the bolts or screws 25 and 26, respectively, these bolts 1 serving to holdthe plate to the bottom of the 1 recess 18. A pair 'ofsprings 27 'are seated in pockets 28 in therear orv inner end'of the plate 22 and bear against a fixed lug'29 secured in the recess 18 by a bolt 30.

perand lower studs 33 and 3f1,respectively,*

I The gear 21 is eccentrically'journaled on a f i which are integrally formed thereon. The stud 33 finds bearing in a socket 35 formed in the slide block 14 while the stud 34 turns in a bearing formed in a block 36. The latter isfitted to slide in therecess-18.

The outermost gear 19 is similarly provided with upper; and; lower alined studs 0 and 38, respectively, which are suitably. journaled in upper and lower sections 3 9 and 10 40 of a journal box. The upper and lower. sections are fastenedtogether by means of bolts 41 as shown in Fig. ,3. The journal box is provided with lateral extensions through which pass bolts 42. The latterare threaded in suitable openings in the end wall of the cylinder: Y10 and serve tosecurethe journal box thereto... The bolt, holesinthe lateral.

extensions areenlarged to receive coil springs 43,4.whicharefittedaboutthe bolts and each, -coilbearsat one end against; a shoulder 44.

formed with a cam portion 19, 20, and 21C 30,; These cam portions conform to the pitch lines of th el gears, so that in service the cam surfaces are held in engagement by the springs 27 on the one hand. and by the springs 43 on the. other, and'the teeth of the gears serve 5;, merely. to cause relative rotary motion of the respective gears.

operation, after the plate 11 has been placed on the cylinder, thering clamp 13 is moved up into position to. overlap the. edge ,,12 ,a1 1 1 clampthe same to the press, by turning the; cam 19 by means of the socket wrench, 47 Owing to its eccentricity, turning ot the cam19 will pressthe cam 20 inward, carrying with it the slide block 14 and ,,theringclampl3. At the same time the driving. gear 19,n1eshing with drivengear 20 Will cause the latter to turn on its axis while the cam, 20 v owing towits eccentricity will causea, still further movement 01" the slide 14 f in the clamping direction; The parts will thus be rnovedto .the position shown in Fig. 3.- i have been turned by gear 20. The eccentricity of;cam.21 is reversed withrespect to that of 681111 20 sothat there will be no relative move ment'between theaXis ofstem 32 and that of; studs 3? and 38. Itwill be observed that. tlregear 19. ismutilated so that it cannot make morethanhalfa turn; hence the gear cannot. fifle turn beyondthe locking position. Asuitable latch. suchv as. described in my. co-pending application mayib'e employed to hold the gears intheposition shown in Fig. 3.

At the same time the ear 21 will 20 and 21 also to turn on their axes of rotation. This will cause a translation of the aXis of gear 20 toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 3. The gear will carry with it the slide block 14 and the ring clamp 13. The springs 27 are provided to keep the gear 21 in meshwiththe gear. 20,,thereby-holding the camsuriaces 2Q and21f in constant engfigtll fi ltr This insures meshing of the gear 20 with gear. 19 and alsowith gear 21, with the result that, when the gear 19 is moved to unlocking positiomthe; slide 14 will be positively moved toward the right by coaction of; cams. 20. and; 21 ,withdrawing the ring clamp 13 from the plate 11.

Having thus describedmy inventionwhat I claim as new and desire. to, secure -byiLetters.

P atentis: 7 a

1. In .a .lockinganechanism oftlie OhElIZhQtQF; described, a bearing member a. clamping 1nember,..a; disk cam rcarried; by, one-of said. members. .andoperatively engaging thezotheri member, meansfor holding thetamdnen: gagement with said othermember and means. for operating thecamto eifectreIativemove: ment. of the clamping member; with. respect; to the bearingmember.

.2. 1n alocking mechanism ohthe characten described, a; bearing member,. a movable clamping member, a.;disk,eccentricallyjour: naledon eachmember, meansfor holding said disks in; peripheral engagement,.. andi means for turning one, of the. disks .;to,etf.ect.. movement of. the clampingmemben witlrree spect. to the bearing member.

3. in a locking mechanismof thecharae. ter described, a .beari11g:member;-.a movable clamping member,- a. disk eccentrically. jonrrnaled on each member, meansiforiholding said i disks in peripheral, engagement; thexlisk-szbe, 1G5 ing formed with, intermeshing: teeth. where: by rotary movement ,of. one .-.of; the; disksswil u cause corresponding rotary. movement orhthe other. disk,.and:means for; turning one loithe disks to, efieict'movementrofrthaclamping member with respectito the bearing; member;

4. In a lockingymechanismi ofl theecharace ter described, a bearing member-3.21;. slidable; clamping; member; pair; ofziintermesliing eccentric gears,:one ofrtlieagears.beingjour: 115. naled on the clamping member. andrtheiother in said bearing member, cache gean being; formed with acam surface.ccincidingwiththe1 pitch circle. ofthe gear, and means. forturning the gear journaled ill-thebearingnncmber,tQi: eliect. sliding movement; of they clamping; member relative to thebeari-ngmemben v v 5. In a locking mechanism}ofctheicharaee ter; described, a,v support for; a, printing;;-plat e,;,

a bearing. member, a; clamping niembersslidg able along; saidasupport; a pairof. peri-pher.;-

. ally engaging disk. cams,:oI1.e liofgsaid camsbew ing ,eccentrically] journa-led in the. clamping; member and the otherbeing eccentricallyv jonrnaled inthe bearing member,meansyfor 1395 turning the latter calm to effect sliding movement of the clamping member, and means for holding said cams in mutual engagement.

6. In a locking mechanism of the character described, a support for a printing plate, a bearing member, a clamping member slidable along said support, a pair of peripherally engaging disk cams, one of said cams being eccentrically journaled in the clamping member and the other being eccentrically journaled in the'bearing member, means for turning the latter cam to effect sliding movement of the clamping member, means for holding said cams in mutual engagement, and a spring serving to hold the bearing member in yielding engagement With the support.

In a locking mechanism of the character described, a support for a printing plate, a bearing member, a clamping member slidable along said support, apair of peripherally engaging disk cams,one of said cams being eccentrically journaled in the clamping member and the other being eccentrically j ournaled in the bearing member, means for turning the latter cam to effect sliding movement of the clamping member, and an idler disk cam serving to hold the other disk cams'in mutual engagement.

8. In a locking mechanism of the character described, a bearing member, a clamping member, a sliding block, a driving disk eccentrically mounted in the bearing member, a driven disk eccentrically mounted on the clamping memberand peripherally engaging one side of thedriving disk, an idler disk eccentrically mounted on the sliding block and peripherally engaging the opposite side of the driven disk, spring means acting on said block to keep the disks in peripheral engagement, and means for turning the driving disks to cause movement of the clamping member relative to the block and to the beara ing member.

9. In a locking mechanism of the character described, a bearingmember, a clamping member, a sliding block, a driving disk eccentrically mounted in the bearing memher, a driven disk eccentrically mounted on the clamping member and peripherally engaging one side of the driving disk, an idler disk eccentrically mounted on the sliding block and peripherally engaging the opposite side of the drivendisk, spring means acting on said block to keep the disks in peripheral engagement, means for turning the driving disks to cause movement of the clamping member relative to the block and to the bearing member, and intermeshing teeth formed on each disk to cause positive rotation of all of the disks when one disk is rotated.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification. I

WILLIAM DURRANT. 

